Marubeni opens PQ for W. Kalimantan alumina project EPC

Japan?s Marubeni Corporation, on behalf on Tayan Chemical Grade Alumina (CGA) Plant Project participants, is opening pre-qualification for EPC tender to construct the plant, Marubeni said in an announcement posted Friday.

The company said eligible participants should have gross sales of at least US$500 million in 2005 with net profit of at least $20 million. The company also requires experience to handle EPC conatract of more than $200 million.

Marubeni, together with state miner PT. Aneka Tambang Tbk, Showa Denko and Malaysia Smelting Company had signed jont venture agreement to develop Tayan CGA plant in West Kalimantan.

Antam Director Alwin Syah Lubis said in April that the joint venture would raise US$220 million to develop the project, which will be able to produce 300,000 tones per annum of CGA in the first one or two years of production and ramping up to 500,000 tones per annum. CGA is used for various commercial and industrial purposes, such as the manufacturing of ceramics, paint, spark plugs and toothpaste. Alumina is produced by processing bauxite.

Lubis said that the construction for the project would commence early 2009; with construction time expected 20 months. ?We?re hoping to commence production in 2010,? he said.(alex)